But it was the absurdly unrealistic scene – and indeed one that would spring from the kind of nonsensical targets and equality quotas we see in the NHS - showing a mixed-race middle-class family in a detached new-build suburban home, which was most symptomatic of the politically correct agenda in modern Britain.

This was supposed to be a representation of modern life in England but it is likely to be a challenge for the organisers to find an educated white middle-aged mother and black father living together with a happy family in such a set-up.

Almost, if not every, shot in the next sequence included an ethnic minority performer. The BBC presenter Hazel Irvine gushed about the importance of grime music (a form of awful electronic music popular among black youths) to east London. This multicultural equality agenda was so staged it was painful to watch.

Several hours later, the second and third paragraphs of that were changed to this:

This was supposed to be a representation of modern life in England but such set-ups are simply not the ‘norm’ in any part of the country. So why was it portrayed like this and given such prominence? If it was intended to be something that we can celebrate, that two people with different colour skin and different cultural heritages can live harmoniously together, then it deserves praise.

But what will be disturbing to many people is top-down political manipulation – whether consciously or unthinkingly – at a major sporting event.

MailOnline completely removed the article, without explanation, the following day.

(Hat-tip to John Walker, who took screenshots of the original and who wrote about it before it was edited.)

25 comments:

The Mail may have deleted the Rick Dewsbury article but they still have the Jan Moir one from Monday about Sharon Davies' face and the cycling with the following section:

"We got our first medal, courtesy of cyclist Lizzie Armitstead. What an utter darling. According to commentators, she had ‘fresh legs in good shape’, which she used to batter heroically through a torrential rainstorm, only to come second to some bitch from Holland."

Maybe I don't live in "Modern England" but growing up in the 90s just outside North London, the kind of families depicted in the bit the Mail Hack has taken offense to were fairly commonplace, as were they in the town I went to University in and indeed the town I live in now. So maybe I don't live in the Mailite "Modern England" (not that I'd want to really) but some kind of Diverse Socialist Utopia... called Reality. Not only horrifically offensive, but the article says much about the sheltered universe the Mail assumes its readers live in (and its writers clearly inhabit).

Cardiff is not unknown for its mixed-race families. A lot of whom are middle class. Areas with long histories of the kind of integration that is anathema to Mail readers are more common than they would like to think.

I hate to say there is a place for their idea of paradise, Northern Ireland. It's so far behind the times in terms of multiculturalism. I'm from there, so I know this to be true. My parents read the paper and it embarrasses me when they come to visit me in England. They spout utter nonsense about people of every minority they see. Blissfully unaware that the paper they find so 'informative' probably hates them too.

Grime isn't a brand of music we as british should be bandwagoning as an artform to behold. 'A form of awful electronic music popular among black youths' is exactly what it is, and contribute massivily to the consious demenour our youth represent today. The Mail is an awfull publication at the best of times, yets its middle class veiws are those of the counties majority.

Heaven forbid that "our youth represent a consious demenour". I hate to break it to you (actually no I don't) but young people have always listened to disagreeable music. The Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones, even The Beatles were blamed by the middle aged prudes for corrupting young minds. And The Daily Mail's views may be those of the "counties" majority, I couldn't really debate that with you until I know which county you're talking about.

The young have always, in some arbitrary way, displeased their elders. I can appreciate that grime is not to everyone's tastes - it's certainly not my thing - but should otherwise respectfully request that you grow the f-k up, Anon@02.43.

Hmmmm...We are that family. I am black british my husband is white british we have been together for 27 years with 2 amazing kids. We are educated professionals and if we have to be labelled 'middle class'.In my opinion this is the face of Britain and the Mail need to get their head out of the sand and see it.

"...grime music [is] a form of awful electronic music popular among black youths." What a pompous twat. But then he does write for The Daily Heil. Having said that, I don't like grime music either - but as a fat middle-aged white male I really shouldn't like youth music! It would be a sad day for contemporary teenagers if I liked what they like, it's THEIR music, after all, NOT mine. Something the contemptible Rick Dewsbury conspicuously fails to understand.

My family doesn't exist then. I'm a white British, middle class female professional, degree educated, living in suburbia, partnered with mixed race British man, degree educated etc etc. We have been together 18 years and have 3 children. We don't feel unusual.